State Urges High Court to Reject Bid to Overturn CEO Disqualification
Translated & summarized from Calcalist by baba
The State of Israel has asked the High Court of Justice to reject Moshe Mor Yosef's petition against his disqualification as CEO of the Matnasim Company. The State Prosecutor's Office argued that the Appointments Committee, led by retired Justice Shulamit Dotan, acted within its authority and that Mor Yosef misrepresented his experience. The committee twice disqualified him, citing insufficient managerial experience and discrepancies in his submitted information. This follows a Labor Court dismissal of his appeal and a previous report of resume embellishment.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- The State asked the High Court to reject Moshe Mor Yosef's petition against his disqualification as CEO of the Matnasim Company.
- The Appointments Committee, led by retired Justice Shulamit Dotan, disqualified Mor Yosef twice.
- The committee cited Mor Yosef's lack of sufficient managerial experience and financial scope.
- Mor Yosef allegedly misrepresented information regarding his employee management and education.
- The Labor Court previously dismissed Mor Yosef's appeal and ordered him to pay 15,000 shekels.
- A 2020 State Comptroller report found Mor Yosef had embellished his resume for a prior role.
The State of Israel has asked the High Court of Justice to dismiss a petition filed by Moshe Mor Yosef challenging his disqualification from the CEO position at the Matnasim Company, and to order him to pay legal costs. The State's response, submitted by the State Prosecutor's Office, represents the committee that reviewed appointments, headed by retired Justice Shulamit Dotan, along with the Government Companies Authority, the Ministry for Regional Cooperation, and the Ministry of Education.
Mor Yosef had petitioned the court to nullify the Appointments Committee's decision to disqualify him, citing that he does not meet the statutory eligibility requirements. He also sought to freeze the appointment of Galit Weidman, who was selected by the Matnasim Company's board and is awaiting approval from the Dotan committee.
The State Prosecutor's Office argued that the petition lacks grounds for intervention in the committee's work, stating it acted within its authority. The committee, they asserted, thoroughly examined Mor Yosef's professional experience and issued a reasoned decision that he does not meet the eligibility criteria, based on legal directives and the Attorney General's guidance. The response further noted that, according to Civil Service Commissioner directives, Mor Yosef could not have had 350 employees reporting to him as Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Interior, and that there is no connection between the financial scope required of candidates and Mor Yosef, who had no subordinates. The CEO role at Matnasim requires managing hundreds or even thousands of employees and significant financial responsibilities.
The prosecutor's office quoted the Dotan committee's findings, which concluded that the lack of sufficient experience meant Mor Yosef did not meet the legal requirements. The committee also pointed out that Mor Yosef misrepresented information regarding the number of employees he managed, the financial scope he handled, and his education. These significant discrepancies, the committee stated, could impact his appointment to a government company CEO position.
Following an appeal from the Matnasim Company's board, the Dotan committee reconsidered Mor Yosef's disqualification and reaffirmed its decision. Earlier, on September 18, it was revealed that Supreme Court President Justice Yitzhak Amit had denied Mor Yosef's request for an interim order to disqualify the committee's decision. President Amit directed the respondents to submit preliminary responses by October 18, 2026.
Mor Yosef's petition to the High Court followed a Labor Court ruling that dismissed his earlier appeal against the Matnasim CEO appointment. Judge Chofit Gershon Israel ordered him to pay 15,000 shekels in costs. In March, it was reported that the Shas party had worked to promote Mor Yosef's appointment, despite a 2020 State Comptroller report that found he had embellished his resume when previously applying for the CEO position at the Negev and Galilee Development Authority.